PNC Galbraith passes away

American Legion Past National Commander William E. Galbraith passed away March 4 in Chandler, Ariz. He was 86 years old.

Galbraith, a native of Beemer, Neb., was an active member of American Legion Post 159 in Beemer where he served as state commander from 1963-1964 and national vice commander from 1965-1966. He was then elected during the closing session of the 49th annual national convention in Boston as the Legion’s national commander for the 1967-1968 year. To date, Galbraith is the only national commander to hail from Nebraska.

Galbraith, a World War II Navy Armed Guard radarman, enlisted in the Navy following his 18th birthday in 1945 but was discharged in May 1946 due to a foot injury. When he returned home to his family’s farm, his father — an officer during World War I — had already signed him up for membership at Beemer Post 159.

A more in-depth story on PNC Galbraith, which will contain memories from friends and Legionnaires, will appear on www.legion.org in the following days.